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The V&A in South Kensington is one of London’s premier museums, so it was super exciting to hear about the V&A East Storehouse opening.
What makes this place so interesting is its concept.
Where museum meets storehouse, that’s the V&A East Storehouse.
Because it’s where the V&A stores hundreds of thousands of its exhibits.
And it’s massive.
V&A East Storehouse
Disappointingly, the V&A East Storehouse isn’t in the fabulous modern building on the east side of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
That’s the V&A East, which is due to open in 2026.
Instead, it’s located in the former soulless, nondescript London 2012 Olympics Media Centre near the Copper Box Arena sporting venue.
However, inside is something else.
It’s magnificent.
Upon arrival, you will be greeted and asked to store your bags and coats in the lockers.
Don’t worry, a member of staff is on hand to help you understand how the locks work, although they aren’t as complicated as they initially seem.
When your belongings are securely stored, it’s time to head up to the store.
Initially, it feels like you are stepping into the self-serve warehouse of an IKEA store.
After chatting with one of the helpful staff members, it seems that’s also the consensus among visitors.
However, you quickly get over that when you are struck by how close and personal you can get with some of the items, assuming the ones closest to touch (which you are not allowed to do!) are of the least value or most hardy.
There are three floors to explore, along with the welcome hall on the ground floor, which features the café.
It’s remarkable and undoubtedly one of the best museums in London, despite being a store rather than a traditional museum, which also makes it unique because its primary purpose is to serve as a storage unit for the other V&A museums, rather than being a museum in its own right.
Remarkably, the V&A East Storehouse contains over 250,000 items, 350,000 books, and more than 1,000 archives.
Usually, museums have a vast array of items with extensive information attached to them, but there’s often too much to take in.
The Storehouse doesn’t have all this information attached to the items, which is a blessing and a curse, depending on what kind of visitor you are.
Much like the Grant Museum of Zoology, this is as much a visual feast as it is anything else, with its vibrant colours, diverse items, and impressive internal architecture.
You get to enjoy looking at stuff without having to read all the labels attached to the items, because there aren’t that many.
There is information, just not an overwhelming amount, although I did hear someone complaining, saying, “Would it be that difficult putting some more information up?” 😂
However, don’t get too upset, as all the information for each item on display is available online through the LookUp website, which can be accessed by scanning one of the many QR codes around.
All you need is the display number from the item you wish to know about.
They even offer free Wi-Fi, with no need to register and hand over your blood type or the name of your first pet.
Beyond the atrium, the Storehouse also features offshoot galleries and working spaces, including the Conservation Overlook.
This particular working space is where the museum staff work to investigate and treat the museum objects, slowing their deterioration to display them safely.
The galleries feature some impressive displays, including the Kauffman Office, the Ballets Russes’ Le Train Bleu stage cloth, the amazing Spanish Torrijos ceiling from 1490, and a fabulous section of brutalist architecture from Robin Hood Gardens, which hangs on the side of the atrium.
The latter is surprisingly easy to overlook, given the atrium’s visual complexity, which presents a lot of detail to take in.
Order an Object Service
Interestingly, and arguably, the V&A East Storehouse makes obtaining items for viewing or research more accessible than ever.
After all, museums like the V&A are public institutions, meaning they serve the public interest by preserving and making accessible a wide range of art, design, and cultural collections, instead of hoarding the items away like most other museums.
The V&A is part of a group of national museums in the UK, meaning it is publicly funded by the UK government through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which grants you access to a degree.
Where the Storehouse sets itself apart is with the promotion of its free Order an Object service.
You can get close to objects of your choice from the stores, which flips this hoarding on its head.
All you have to do is find the object in the online collection (they must be in the same museum), book an appointment, and then turn up to see it under the care of the Collections Access team.
Visitor Information
📍 Parkes Street, London, E20 3AX
💷 Free
🕙 Daily, 10 am – 6 pm, late opening to 10 pm on Thu and Sat
V&A East Storehouse Photos
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